Surfactant replacement in spontaneously breathing babies with hyaline membrane disease--a pilot study.
In a neonatal unit which, at that time, had no facilities for artificial ventilation, 14 newborn infants with birth weight greater than or equal to 1,500 g fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for severe hyaline membrane disease (HMD) were treated by tracheal instillation of bovine surfactant (200 mg/kg). Twelve of these babies showed increased transcutaneous PO2/FiO2 ratio within 2 min, the average therapeutic response being sustained for at least 72 h. One of the two babies who did not respond to treatment was later diagnosed as a case of group B streptococcal pneumonia. One baby with favorable initial response died from sepsis at the age of 7 days; the other patients survived without sequelae. We conclude that treatment with exogenous surfactant might be considered as an alternative to ventilator treatment in babies with severe HMD.
Victorin
L H
LH
Department of Pediatrics, University of Kuwait.
Deverajan
L V
LV
Curstedt
T
T
Robertson
B
B
D000818:Animals; D006337:Heart Murmurs / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006819:Hyaline Membrane Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012119:Respiration; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants